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ABC's of Opera- Dramatic Voices

Welcome Students and Teachers to Opera Online! Continuing with our series "The ABC's of Opera", this week we will be focusing on the voice type of the dramatic voice.

Video Clips of the Week!
The dramatic voice can be recognized by its' dark and powerful quality. Dramatic voice types often thought of as the stereotypical voice of an opera singer. These singers have enough volume to cut through a full orchestra. Our first video demonstrates the power behind dramatic voices. Featuring dramatic mezzo-sopranos, contraltos, and sopranos the "Ride of the Valkyries" from Richard Wagner's opera Die Walküre is one of the most famous opera pieces in the world. The Valkyries, daughters of the god Wotan, are in charge of bringing hereos killed in battle to Valhalla, the land of the Gods. The clip comes from the Bayreuth Festival in Germany.

The second video is from the 2006 production of George Bizet's Carmen at Covent Garden in London. Dramatic tenor Jonas Kaufmann sings "La fleur que tu m'avais jetee".


The Ride of the Valkyries



Jonas Kaufmann, "La fleur que tu m'avais jetee" from Carmen



Website of the Week!
Want to learn more about popluar dramatic singers performing today? Check out soprano Deborah Voigt, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, and bass-baritone Bryn Terfel.

Opera on the Air!
On Saturday, July 9th at 1 PM radio station WRTI will be broadcasting the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Georg Frideric Handel's Hercules. Handel's brilliant music matches Sophocles's drama every step of the way as Dejanira, wife of supreme warrior Hercules, waits years for him to return from battle. Finally, he does - and it's to a hero's welcome. But there's danger in his latest victory. This time Hercules didn't kill some mythic monster; he's killed a mortal enemy and enslaved the man's lovely daughter. Now he's brought her home...threatening everything Dejanira holds dear. Conducted by Harry Bicket the production features mezzo-soprano Alice Coote as Dejanira, bass Eric Owens as the Greek hero Hercules, countertenor David Daniels as Lichas, soprano Lucy Crowe as Iole, and tenor Richard Croft as Hyllus.


Until Next Week!!

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